Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;DLFBRI1&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFBRI1’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; relatively rapid growth rate; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences; and large decorative-type inflorescences with white-colored ray florets.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Provisional application Ser. No. 62/761,600

Filed: Mar. 30, 2018

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFBRI1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum X morifolium,commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘DLFBRI1’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new freely-flowering cut Chrysanthemumplants with attractive inflorescences, strong flowering stems andexcellent postproduction longevity.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination on Mar.19, 2015 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifoliumidentified as code number DB 21697 as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as codenumber DB 26704 as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemumplant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Oct. 9, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings since Oct. 9, 2015 has shown that the unique featuresof this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to typein successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DLFBRI1’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DLFBRI1’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemumplant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit.    -   2. Relatively rapid growth rate.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences.    -   6. Large decorative-type inflorescences with white-colored ray        florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences thanplants of the female parent selection.

-   -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower five days earlier than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are twisting        whereas ray florets of plants of the female parent selection are        slightly incurved.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are twisting        whereas ray florets of plants of the male parent selection are        straight and not twisting.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Delibaltica’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plantsof ‘Delibaltica’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have smaller inflorescences        than plants of ‘Delibaltica’.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower five days earlier than        plants of ‘Delibaltica’.    -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are twisting        whereas ray florets of plants of ‘Delibaltica’ are straight and        not twisting.    -   4. Developing ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are        white in color whereas developing ray florets of plants of        ‘Delibaltica’ are green in color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Zembla’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.14,052. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Chrysanthemumdiffer primarily from plants of ‘Zembla’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences        than plants of ‘Zembla’.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower five days earlier than        plants of ‘Zembla’.    -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are twisting        whereas ray florets of plants of ‘Zembla’ are slightly incurved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Chrysanthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering stem of ‘DLFBRI1’ grown as a spray-type.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises close-up views of the lower(top of the photographic sheet) and upper surfaces (bottom of thephotographic sheet) of typical inflorescences and leaves of ‘DLFBRI1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the winter in ground beds in aglass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plantswere initially given long day/short night treatments followed by shortday/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 22° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C. and lightlevels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem stem plants andwere ten weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken.In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFBRI1’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code designation DB            21697, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum X morifolium identified as code designation DB            26704, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at            temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at            temperatures about 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve            days at temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two            weeks at temperatures about 22° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut            flower that is typically grown as a single stem spray-type;            upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth            rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 76.2            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence            plane.—About 83 cm.        -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 19.2 cm.        -   Flowering stem length.—About 75.6 cm.        -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 6.5 mm.        -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 3 cm.        -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.        -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.        -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;            slightly glossy.        -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 144A, at the            internodes, close to 146B.        -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 146B and 147C to            147D.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 12.8 cm. Width: About 8.2 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:            Short apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed,            coarsely crenate; sinuses convergent and medium to deep in            depth. Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately            pubescent, not rugose; moderately velvety; very slightly            glossy. Texture and luster, upper surface: Densely            pubescent, prominent venation; slightly velvety; matte.            Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing            leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker than 143A. Developing            leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully developed            leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A; venation, close to            146B. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;            venation, close to 147C to 147D. Petioles: Length: About            1.6 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 4.5 mm. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface:            Close to 147C; edges, close to NN137B. Color, lower surface:            Close to 147C; edges, close to 147B. Stipules: Quantity and            appearance: Two leafy stipules, opposite, at the petiole            attachment to the stem. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About            7 mm. Shape: Flabellate. Texture and luster, upper surface:            Moderately pubescent; very slightly glossy. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent; matte. Color,            upper surface: Close to NN137A. Color, lower surface: Close            to 147B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Decorative-type inflorescence form with            oblanceolate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets            (disc florets are inconspicuous); inflorescences borne            perpendicular to peduncles and face mostly upright to            slightly outwardly; ray and disc florets develop acropetally            on a capitulum.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and            short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long            day/short night conditions after planting followed by            photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about            47 days later when grown as a spray-type.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; in            an interior environment, inflorescences and foliage will            maintain good color and substance for about two weeks;            inflorescences persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit; when            grown as a spray-type, about 20 inflorescences develop per            flowering stem.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 10.5 cm. Depth (height):            About 3.8 cm. Disc diameter: About 4 mm.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 148D.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About            1.4 cm. Shape: Globular. Texture and luster: Distally,            smooth and glabrous; proximally, sparsely pubescent; very            slightly glossy. Color: Distally, close to 157D (immature            ray florets); proximally, close to 143A.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 150 arranged in            about six whorls. Length: About 5.1 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm.            Shape: Oblanceolate; twisting, slightly carinate. Apex:            Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate.            Aspect: Initially upright to about 80° from vertical.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; slightly            glossy. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:            Initially, close to 157D, then close to NN155D. Fully            opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D; venation,            close to NN155D; color does not change with development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About ten spirally            arranged in two or three whorls at the center of the            receptacle; disc florets inconspicuous. Length: About 7 mm.            Diameter: About 1.75 mm. Shape: Lower 67% fused into a tube;            upper 33% free. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer            surfaces: Apex: Close to N144B. Mid-section: Close to 14C.            Base: Close to 145C to 145D. Color, fully opened, inner and            outer surfaces: Apex: Close to 2B. Mid-section: Close to 14C            to 14D. Base: Close to 145C to 145D.        -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 28            arranged in three whorls. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About            4 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely            pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to            144A; margins, translucent, and close to 157D; apices, close            to N199A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137A to 137B;            margins, translucent, close to 157D; apices, close to N199A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 3.2 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3.5 mm. Length, third            peduncle: About 4.3 cm. Diameter, terminal peduncle: About            3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Mostly            upright. Aspect, third peduncle: About 40° from the            flowering stem axis. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;            matte. Color: Close to between 144A and 146A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:            About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 150C. Anther size:            About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther            color: Close to 13A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:            Close to 17B. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc            florets. Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About            5.5 mm. Style length: About 5 mm. Style color: Close to            N144B. Stigma diameter: About 1.5 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,            decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 2B. Ovary color: Close to            145B to 145C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have            not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    been observed to be resistant to Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium    oxysporum f. sp. chrysanthemi). To date, resistance to pests and    other pathogens common to Chrysanthemum plants has not been observed    on plants of the new Chrysanthemum grown under commercial    conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to    35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFBRI1’as illustrated and described.